I'm happy pubs are dying out

Not all pubs are like this.
I spent the afternoon in one of my local pubs yesterday. It’s a gorgeous country pub - well decorated with lots of windows. Not a single fruit machine in sight.

I saw multiple friends and acquaintances as Sunday afternoon in the pub is very much a thing where we live. It was lovely.
Nothing bleak about it at all.

We’ll do the same again next week.

I know - but where I live (east London) most are being transformed into more upmarket drinking places, still pub-like but definitely not pubs.

I literally had no "attitude" as I never been to the typical pub before coming to this country - all the pubs abroad are Irish ones, quite different.

My resentment grew over years as my ex went to pubs frequently so I went with him until deciding I cant be wasting my evenings like that. The pubs we went to had "regulars", same people going there all the time; bingo nights; visiting "artists" - usually rowdy drag acts; and pissy ale beer. I don't drink beer, don't like drag acts, don't like football and can't be asked talking to the same people about same crap over and over again...

edited - fat finger typing

@Raymondsam - are you going to engage with your own thread?

Many pubs are nothing like you e described, so you are definitely BU.

Nothing nicer than a lovely country pub - perfect in the winter for a roaring fire and a great roast dinner, equally so in the summer with a good beer garden in the sunshine.

I think the decline of decent pubs is actually quite sad. They’ve been an historical part of our landscape and more should be done to try to keep them going. Keeping a good pub going is hard work, I don’t envy the landlords for the amount of work it takes.

Ive never been much of a pub goer, especially in the past when you were allowed to smoke. They never made much sense to me, probably because I travelled as a single. I can remember going into them in London but only to take the weight off my fet for a bit and quench my thirst. My memories of them as a social place was going with a group from work and getting stiffed over "kitties". I cant recall the last time I was in one. I dont even know where the nearest one is.

Yeah, the minute someone walks in, the piano stops playing and everyone looks around.

Pubs are bleak, rundown shitholes. Have you noticed they always look dark even on a Summer's day and there are still people in there? Then there are the gambling fruit machines for dumb people to waste their wages when intoxicated/lacking capacity to make the choice.

If you think yhd UK is bad, Yoire going to be shocked at South East Asia.

Can I be honest? I have a secret love for shitty old boozers (or “hovels”) and traditional pub culture. And (arrest me now), I still, every so often, like to get utterly shitfaced.

Nearly every great, long-lasting friendship I’ve formed as an adult was signed, sealed, and cemented, in a pub, after several drinks.

I agree. Our local, non chain, pub in our village has been managed by the same landlord and landlady for over 30 years.

They do quiz nights, music nights, Sunday lunches, funeral wakes, weekly lunches for pensioners and host book clubs and MacMillan coffee mornings amongst other things.

I notice the OP has posted a goady first post then done a runner. Maybe they are jealous that we don't all live in rough areas with hovels for pubs.

I agree Britain binge drink culture is hopefully going to die out. I love the fact that my DDs and their friends are more interested in going to the gym or out for lunch. My town does a discount at the gym for over sixties there’s loads of pensioners accessing the council gyms, they have made their own little community.

Whats that got to do with pubs? If anything re your point, cycling and golf would be the issue....

That’s sad - pub are part of your culture. I couldn’t imagine uk without pubs

Kill joy!!

It’s not lack of customers “killing” pubs, it’s ridiculous business rates, National insurance, Minimum wage increases, utilities, food increases.

Actually, the press doom and gloom is not a true reflection of the pub trade, it’s just that to try and get the govt listening, and seeing how important hospitality is, it comes across this way.

You will see exactly the same thing being said about cafes and restaurants as well but the great British pub has been an institution so it’s more headline grabbing. It also resonates with “Everyman” in a way that Tom Kerridge or Gordon Ramsey closing a restaurant doesn’t.

Sounds like you live in a shit area tbh

I am in recovery and never drank in pubs. Now sober I love a pub lunch with a non alcoholic drink - especially in the summer and seeing how busy our local gets I am not the only one.

Well said, ours is used exactly as you described plus more

A lot of people seem to misunderstand why pubs exist. They are essential community hubs for the exchange of local information, for support, for meeting your neighbours, for warmth and comfort in the cold British weather, for celebrations and wakes, a place for when you just want to get away from your four walls. If pubs are removed it weakens communities and damages British culture.

My grandfather was found dead eith a bottle of methylated spirits next to him.

I’ve read some nonsense on here but this is up there.

First, those “old boys” who you seem to consider don’t deserve or need a social outlet, aren’t going to stop drinking because the pub is closed.

Second, pubs aren’t going to die out. The ones in this area are packed. Most of the bars and pubs that close cite increased costs like utilities and national insurance, not lack of demand.

Third, people drink at home.

I know. I've noticed that the Mumsnet population, in general, tends to be very ageist.

Mn is one of the most ageist areas of the internet unfortunately

It's more or less like my dad's case.

OP, you're being completely unreasonable. You're actually hoping for the economy to collapse, causing people to lose their jobs and incomes. I refuse to overlook the blatant ageism in your post, unlike many others. Consider yourself fortunate that Mumsnet enforces rules against racism but not against ageism.

Sadly if people don't use it... but yeah, real shame when a community style pub.